Patrick Lavoie’s introduction to the Saskatchewan Roughriders should have included directions for the CFL team’s massive Mosaic Stadium facilities.

The newly acquired receiver got lost while walking into the locker room after Thursday’s closed practice. The seven-year CFL veteran walked over to where the running backs are seated before being directed across the room to where the receivers hang out.

Those are the type of things that can take place at the CFL’s trade deadline when a team acquires players who are unfamiliar with their new surroundings.

The Riders acquired Lavoie and offensive lineman Philip Blake from the Montreal Alouettes on Wednesday for receiver Joshua Stanford and a second-round pick in the 2020 CFL draft.

Lavoie was spending the bye week with his family in Quebec City when he was informed of the trade on Wednesday morning. He packed some of his belongings before rushing to Montreal to add a few more items.

He left Montreal on Wednesday and was in Regina on Thursday morning after spending the night in Toronto.

“I haven’t settled in yet,” Lavoie said with a laugh. “My baggage is upstairs (in Mosaic Stadium). I don’t even know where I’m going to sleep (Thursday) night. I know, but visually I don’t know.”

Lavoie does know where he’ll be on the weekend. Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, said Lavoie and Blake will dress for Saturday’s game in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers.

“If we didn’t feel confident that they would be able to contribute, then we wouldn’t have gone in that direction,” Jones said. “We feel confident in our coaching staff and in them that we will get them prepared to play.”

The Alouettes have already been eliminated from the playoff hunt and were looking for ways to upgrade their roster. They accomplished that by trading Lavoie and Blake to the Riders.

“I understand the move and why they did it,” said Lavoie, who can play wide receiver, slotback and fullback in addition to contributing on special teams. “I’m just glad to be here with a winning team that is playoff bound.

“I wasn’t really surprised (about the trade) because I heard from a couple of players that the (Saskatchewan) coaches liked how I played. At the same time, it’s nice to be part of the greatest organization in the CFL.”

Blake, who has started 57 consecutive games over the past four seasons with the Alouettes, is ready to play with his new team despite the short notice.

“I understand it’s a challenge to learn the playbook, but football’s football and they wouldn’t have brought me here if I couldn’t play football,’’ said Blake, who can play guard, centre and tackle.

“Football is all terminology. It’s learning the new language as I say it. Once I get familiar with that and get comfortable, I’ll just try to do my best when I get a call.”

Jones said that the Riders will be without centre Dan Clark and international slotback Jordan Williams-Lambert on Saturday. They both suffered undisclosed injures in Monday’s 19-12 win over the Edmonton Eskimos. Jones didn’t elaborate on the severity of the injuries or how long each player could be on the sideline.

Guard Brendon LaBatte is to start at centre. Josiah St. John or Terran Vaughn could fill in for the Riders at guard.

Caleb Holley, who has been on the six-game injured list, may be activated to replace Williams-Lambert.

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